Women in Malaysia work in central banks and within the sharia court system.

Gulf women have access to large sums of money and “would control as much as $385 billion by the end of 2011.”

“There is no sharia restriction why women cannot play and occupy important roles in the development of Islamic finance at all levels,” Islamic scholar and law firm partner Sheikh Muddassir Siddiqui said.

Social conventions more than legal ones keep some women out of finance.

Some conservative clerics claim that women working outside the home would undermine their roles within the family.

Islamic scholar Sheikha Halima Krausen noted women haven’t always had the opportunities to study business like the do today, and they should take advantage of it.

“A case in point: Prophet Mohammad’s first wife Khadija was a successful businesswoman in her day. And she happened to be his boss before she became his wife,” Pasha wrote.

Read More: Could women play a bigger role in Islamic finance? (Reuters)

Liz Leslie is a journalist based in Bloomington, Indiana. As an associate Web producer for WFIU, Liz maintains the Muslim Voices Twitter and Facebook as well as writes for the blog. She also contributes to Earth Eats.More posts by this author »